Saudi officials are preparing to pay the salaries of the Free Syria Army as a means of encouraging mass defections from the military and increasing pressure on the Assad regime, the Guardian has learned.
The move, which has been discussed between Riyadh and senior officials in the US and Arab world, is believed to be gaining momentum as a recent flush of weapons sent to rebel forces by Saudi Arabia and Qatar starts to make an impact on battlefields in Syria.
More analysis on the disorder to come in a post-Assad Syria (h/t The Agonist):
Some seem to forget that Syria (like its neighbors Lebanon and Iraq) are artificial states, lines drawn on a map by European diplomats when they dismantled the Ottoman Empire after World War I. Indeed the same is true of much of Africa, carved up at the 1884-85 Berlin Conference. Borders were decided on the basis of European interests, not local ethnic/political dynamics. In the Middle East, there are only three entities that have historically been states/empires: Egypt, Turkey, and Iran.
The potency of ethno-nationalism as a political driver has been on display since the moment the USSR dissolved in 1991 and suddenly fifteen ethnic-based new republics, from Armenia to Uzbekistan, emerged. Then there was the dissolution of Yugoslavia and the Balkans wars of the 1990s, which is relatively calm thanks to a NATO interventions in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1996 to 1999, now sustained by EU forces) and Kosovo (ongoing since 1998 and extended again just yesterday) . Even Czechoslovakia split in two.
The contemporary reality is that local political identity, defined by kinship, language, and culture has assumed a growing importance, in part as an embrace of political identity in response to the complex and sometimes overwhelming forces of globalization.
Note: As for the video, it’s the entire film “Lawrence of Arabia,” because it’s Friday, I love movies, and it’s fitting due to the insanity swirling around the Syrian drama. Enjoy.
I don’t see the logic behind replacing Bashar Assad with a terrorist. I understand that the Sunni Arab dictators want to replace the Shiite dictator that is backed by Iran. I think that only the worst will result in Syria if foriegn countries fund, arm, and train the agitators over there. Call them the “Free Syrian Army, al quadea, the rebels or whatever you want. They are not domestic peaceful protesters.
Yeah, the second article to which I linked is very instructive.
The ethnonationalism the author talks about is something *never* discussed here.
Kind of funny or sad but Romney wants to do the same thing the Sauds are going to do. We never seem to learn any lessons when it comes to the middle east.
1.”I think that only the worst will result in Syria if foriegn countries fund, arm, and train the agitators over there. ”
The “agitators over there”?! Gee, was a time when folks in this country cheered people fighting to throw off a dictator. Nice to know you instead support one of the real sources of international terrorism in the world against the people.
2.”Call them the “Free Syrian Army, al quadea, the rebels or whatever you want. They are not domestic peaceful protesters.”
What the hell is al quade?!!! As for the rest of yoiur drivel I call them freedom fighters and wish them well and say more power to the Saudis for doing this. As for “peaceful protesters” go frack yourself with your “peaceful protesters” They are people willing to die for their right to self determination whether YOU approve or not.
Assad is a butcher, like his father before him. He cares about nothing but himself, his family and all the other Alawites in the country. He will will kill everyone to survive , for he knows that he is now a dead man walking. It is unfortunate that after he is gone things will not get much better as sectarian and ethnic violence replaces the violence and the brutality of the present regime. It is preferable that the Arabs handle this themselves regardless of the outcome, which will not be good no matter what.
Sort of like neoconservatism, Arabian-style.
Although why pussyfoot around with paying off the Syrian army? Just give Riyad the remote controller for the drones and take out the Assad faction Obama-style.
I wondered about the remote control option myself.
With Syria bringing down a Turkish military jet with air defense missiles that Russia has sold to them, Assad better watch himself big time. There is no telling what action Turkey will take, Turkey is proberly one of the most powerful nations in that region. Big mistake for Syria big time.
I know you have a different view than I do.
fairmindedindependent – I think Turkey is already at war with Syria. After everything Turkey has done so far, the only thing left is a full invasion.
I am not saying Bashar Assad is bette than any other dictator. I will say that he is smarter than the other Arab dictators like Sadaam, Khadaffy, Mubarak, and the rest that fell. He went to school to become an Optometrist. There is a certain reason why China and Russia have “doubled down” on Assad. The alternative is much worse. I think a peaceful resolution can be reached, if everyone was united that was against Assad being in power. I think that it is likely that Assad will agree to a peaceful resolution that requires him to leave power. I am sure that the real civil war in Syria will begin after Assad leaves, unless a strong diplomatic agreement is reached.
secular…er – I am just happy to know that you read my posts and are kind enough to reply to each and every comment I make. You may not understand. It is my hope that one day you will. Keep it up.
Assad has Russia backing it along with China’s veto vote at the UN. Plus Russia is selling advanced weapons to Syria like attack helicopters and military jets among air defense missiles and much more.
1.”fairmindedindependent – I think Turkey is already at war with Syria. After everything Turkey has done so far, the only thing left is a full invasion.”
And just what is the “everything” you spout off about with NO backing up links or evidence? Pull things outta yer ass much?
2.”I am not saying Bashar Assad is bette than any other dictator. I will say that he is smarter than the other Arab dictators like Sadaam, Khadaffy, Mubarak, and the rest that fell. He went to school to become an Optometrist.”
OMGAWD what ain’t even THERE!!! He went to school to me an OPTOMETRIST!!!! CLEAR evidence of genius and wisdom for running a country!!
3.” There is a certain reason why China and Russia have “doubled down” on Assad.”
Because we and the rest of the region are backing the rebels and Assad plays nice with Russia and China. THAT is the “certain” reason.
4.” The alternative is much worse.”
Worse? HOW can it be worse then a Dictator who is willing to kill his own people? And the Russians don’t give a rats ASS about how many of his own people he kills. But they DO care if a NEW government…maybe once beholding to the US and other Arab states comes to power.
5.” I think a peaceful resolution can be reached, if everyone was united that was against Assad being in power. I think that it is likely that Assad will agree to a peaceful resolution that requires him to leave power. I am sure that the real civil war in Syria will begin after Assad leaves, unless a strong diplomatic agreement is reached.”
Jeebus crispies are you as dumb as this comment of yours sounds? A “real civil war” A REAL Civil war is going on right now. Assad will not leave…they are going to have to drag his dead body out of the palace…and good riddance.
6.”secular…er – I am just happy to know that you read my posts and are kind enough to reply to each and every comment I make. You may not understand. It is my hope that one day you will. Keep it up.”
Oh I understand alright…I understand your “comments” perfectly.
secularmindedlogicalpollutionizer – If you want me to take you the least bit serious, you have to cut out the personal insults towards me. Are you a child? If so then your crap comments make sense. If you are an adult, you should act like one. DO you talk this way in real life? I am not your parent so it is not my job to teach you how to properly behave publicly.
If you are blind to the fact that Turkey is training, funding, supporting, encouraging, and arming the people carrying out violent acts in Syria, I suggest you read a newspaper or check out a news website.
If you do not see the difference between a person who went to a University to become an optomitrist and ended up being a dictator and those dictators who have murdered their way into power, get some insight into modern Arab leaders.
If you think a foriegn backed insugency is the same as a civil war and have enough faith behind your conclusion to tell someone that saying so is “dumb”. Well… As Dr. Phil likes to say “I can not help you.”
FYI – Most of the people in Syria, even the Sunnis support Assad. This is the reality. You read about Syria and hear things on the radio, especially NPR, and see all this stuff going on on TV and the internet. I can understand that you would think the entire country is on fire. The opposite is true. Most of Syria is going on business as usual. There are economic issues as a result of the sanctions placed against it. WHat else is new.
What asonishes me secularisimo is your depth of hypocrisy. Let me troll-up some of your comments on US foreign policy and see how consistant it is to your reply to me. It shows me that you have ZERO conviction behind your statements and you are just blowing air. I think I liked it better when I ignore you.
The reason Saudi Arabia and Qatar support the free syrian army has everything to do with religious sects not dissimlar to the Protestant Catholic religious wars in times past. Why should the US government even involve itself in religious wars. The majority of Syrians are Sunni Arabs but the Assad family is Shiite. Saudi Arabia and Qatar are Sunni majority countries with Sunny led governents.Iran and Iraq are led by Shiite dominated governments. Shiite Muslims are the majority of Iraqi people but was under control of Sunni rule by Sadaam Hussein who was a Sunni Muslim. Iraq went to war with Iran with over one million causalties. It was a war between a Sunni led Iraq and a Shiite led Iran.
Saudi Arabia opposes Shiite control of Arab countries. Iran opposes Sunni control of Arab countries. Both sects consider the other as cults.
Meanwhile the US media hyperventilates on the importance of the US in tha Arab religious wars with the US sifding with the Sunni’s (Saudi Arabia) over the Shiite governments (Iran) who hate each other s much as they do the US and Israel.